Chapter 1. ON THE LOOK OUT

ngoingbeforethetide.Untilnow,theboathadbarelyheldherown,andhadhoveredaboutonespotbutnow,thebankschangedswiftly,andthedeepeningshadowsandthekindlinglightsofLondonBridgewerepassed,andthetiersofshippinglayoneitherhand. Itwasnotuntilnowthattheupperhalfofthemancamebackintotheboat.Hisarmswerewetanddirty,andhewashedthemovertheside.Inhisrighthandheheldsomething,andhewashedthatintherivertoo.Itwasmoney.Hechinkeditonce,andheblewuponitonce,andhespatuponitonce,—‘forluck,’hehoarselysaid—beforeheputitinhispocket. ‘Lizzie!’ Thegirlturnedherfacetowardshimwithastart,androwedinsilence.Herfacewasverypale.Hewasahook-nosedman,andwiththatandhisbrighteyesandhisruffledhead,boreacertainlikenesstoarousedbirdofprey. ‘Takethatthingoffyourface.’ Sheputitback. ‘Here!andgivemeholdofthesculls.I’lltaketherestofthespell.’ ‘No,no,father!No!Ican’tindeed.Father!—Icannotsitsonearit!’ Hewasmovingtowardshertochangeplaces,butherterrifiedexpostulationstoppedhimandheresumedhisseat. ‘Whathurtcanitdoyou?’ ‘None,none.ButIcannotbearit.’ ‘It’smybeliefyouhatethesightoftheveryriver.’ ‘I—Idonotlikeit,father.’ ‘Asifitwasn’tyourliving!Asifitwasn’tmeatanddrinktoyou!’ Attheselatterwordsthegirlshiveredagain,andforamomentpausedinherrowing,seemingtoturndeadlyfaint.Itescapedhisattention,forhewasglancingoverthesternatsomethingtheboathadintow. ‘Howcanyoubesothanklesstoyourbestfriend,Lizzie?Theveryfirethatwarmedyouwhenyouwereababby,waspickedoutoftheriveralongsidethecoalbarges.Theverybasketthatyousleptin,thetidewashedashore.TheveryrockersthatIputitupontomakeacradleofit,Icutoutofapieceofwoodthatdriftedfromsomeshiporanother.’ Lizzietookherrighthandfr